Legit Creator Income · US Edition · the 7 creator income sources, done the legit way

Who it's for

Made for creators who are just starting and want to do it right

You don't need to go viral. You need a method, a fair price and a contract.

1k to 20k

Followers is enough to start

All seven sources can be started with a small account, because local businesses, UGC brands and your own digital product don't require millions of followers.

2 sources

To start, for 30 days

College, a day job or a fresh start: the plan fits into about an hour a day and begins with the source that fits you best.

IRS + FTC

Rules explained before your first deal

Taxes, FTC disclosures, contracts and the most common creator scams, explained before you sign your first partnership.

It's for you if…

…you want to start earning from your content, you'll actually work a 30-day plan, and you'd rather grow slowly and properly than chase overnight results.

It's not for you if…

…you want get-rich-quick promises (you won't find any here), you already earn a lot and need a CPA or an attorney, or you're looking for algorithm hacks instead of a method.

Take a look

What's inside

13 chapters and 3 annexes. Straight talk, copy-and-paste templates and tables you can check right when you're closing a deal.

Why “legit” is the edgeThe golden rule of this guide, why doing it right is an advantage, and a map of the 7 income sources.

Foundation: business setup, taxes and paperworkSole proprietor vs LLC, EIN, W-9, 1099-NEC and 1099-K, Schedule C, self-employment tax, quarterly estimated taxes, records and gifted products.

Source 1 · Brand deals and sponsorshipsHow brands choose, your media kit, a pricing formula in USD, DM and email pitch templates, negotiation, W-9 and net-30.

Source 2 · Affiliate marketingPrograms that exist, US disclosure rules (including Amazon's required wording) and 5 formats that don't feel spammy.

Source 3 · UGCWhy brands pay for it, example price ranges built from a formula, a portfolio in 7 days and a proposal template.

Source 4 · TikTok Shop and social commerceHow the affiliate side works, what to check in the app before you start, what sells and video formats.

Source 5 · LinkedIn as an income sourcePositioning, 4 post formats, what to sell, ghostwriting and how a comment turns into a proposal.

Source 6 · Your own low-ticket digital productA $9 to $39 product: validate it in 7 days with Stories, build the sales page with AI, set up automatic delivery and launch in 5 stories.

Source 7 · Your own communityPaid community, membership or cohort: choosing a platform, a 14-day build and the legal basics.

Content that sells without feeling salesyHow to sell through your content without sounding like an ad, with the disclosure done right.

Legal essentialsContract must-haves, usage rights and whitelisting, right of publicity, minors, CAN-SPAM, FTC rules and what to do when a brand doesn't pay.

Scams and account protection7 scams targeting creators in 2026, how to verify a brand in 10 minutes, account security and where to report.

Your 30-day planFour weeks, one task a day, with example goals clearly labeled as examples, and how to scale afterwards.

ANNEX A

Brand partnership agreement template

A plain-English template covering deliverables, deadlines, payment, usage rights and FTC disclosure, ready to adapt.

ANNEX B

Rate card in USD

Example price ranges built from the guide's pricing formula, so you quote with a method instead of guessing.

ANNEX C

Media-kit checklist

Everything a brand looks for in your media kit.

The method

7 income sources, one chapter each

Pick two, work them for 30 days, and only then add a third. Creators who try all seven at once usually end up closing none.

SOURCE 1

Brand deals and sponsorships

How brands choose creators, a pricing formula, your media kit, pitching by DM and by email, negotiation, deliverables and exclusivity.

SOURCE 2

Affiliate marketing

Amazon and other programs, how commissions work and the disclosure the FTC expects, without spamming your followers.

SOURCE 3

UGC

Videos brands run in their own ads. A portfolio in 7 days, pricing by scope and usage rights.

SOURCE 4

TikTok Shop and social commerce

How the affiliate side works, what to check in the app, what sells, and why FTC disclosure still applies.

SOURCE 5

LinkedIn as an income source

Consulting, ghostwriting and content for companies: the network where 300 of the right connections can matter more than 30,000 followers.

SOURCE 6

Your own low-ticket product

From topic to sales page: validation, building it, picking a platform, refund policy and a launch in Stories.

SOURCE 7

Your own community

Bring together the people who learn from you and sell directly: paid community, membership or cohort, built in 14 days.

+ FOUNDATION

Business setup, taxes, legal and scams

EIN, W-9, 1099s, Schedule C, self-employment tax, quarterly estimates, FTC rules and contracts: the chapters that separate getting paid once from getting paid again. Updated for 2026.

Complete pack

4 bonuses so you never get stuck

Materials for the parts where most people stall: the message, the schedule, the media kit and the caption.

BONUS 1 · INCLUDED

Ready-to-send message kit

14 templates: first DM, brand pitch email, follow-up, negotiation, payment reminder, scam reply and testimonial request.

BONUS 2 · INCLUDED

30-day planner

The guide's plan as a planner: one task a day, a weekly review, a scoreboard and goal tracking in USD.

BONUS 3 · INCLUDED

Fillable media kit

A fillable PDF with the items brands look for, plus a guide to where each number comes from.

BONUS 4 · INCLUDED

50 hooks + 30 captions

Opening lines that hold attention and captions that sell without sounding salesy, with the right disclosure built in.

Bonuses are delivered with the guide, in the same access area. Complete pack only.

Packs

Choose your pack

One-time payment, no subscription. Instant access and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Basic pack

^$19

one-time payment

Legit Creator Income, US Edition (PDF guide, 13 chapters)
Annexes: influencer contract template, rate card in USD and media-kit checklist
30-day money-back guarantee

Not included

Bonus 1: Ready-to-send message kit
Bonus 2: 30-day planner
Bonus 3: Fillable media kit
Bonus 4: 50 hooks + 30 captions

Get the basic pack

Complete pack

^$37

one-time payment

Everything in the basic pack
Bonus 1: Ready-to-send message kit (14 templates)
Bonus 2: 30-day planner
Bonus 3: Fillable media kit
Bonus 4: 50 hooks + 30 captions
Editable contract template (.docx) and rate card calculator (.xlsx)
30-day money-back guarantee

Get the complete pack

One-time payment · secure checkout · access by email right after payment

Optional add-on at checkout: Creator Income Tracker

A spreadsheet to log every deal and payout, see your income by month and by source, keep track of unpaid invoices and plan what to set aside for taxes. Available with either pack; you can tick it on the checkout page.

✓

30-day money-back guarantee

Bought it and it's not what you needed? Ask for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. No questions asked.

🔒

Secure payment

Processed by our checkout provider. Your card details never pass through this site.

★

Your personal copy

Each copy is licensed to one buyer for personal use. That's what keeps the price low for everyone.

Who wrote it

Ana Lívia Medeiros

I'm 25, from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, and an official Canva Ambassador. I'm a law student (graduating December 2026), currently in postgraduate certificate programs in Compliance, International Law and International Relations. I led the expansion of an international study-abroad platform, taught English for six years and worked in public administration.

I started posting after my account was hacked and I lost years of work at once. Rebuilding from zero is how I put together the method in this guide: income that comes with a contract, proper paperwork and clear rules, not luck.

For the US Edition, I researched the US rules directly from official sources such as the IRS and the FTC, and every source is listed at the end of the guide. I'm not a US attorney or CPA, so where the stakes are high (choosing an LLC, a big contract, back taxes) the guide tells you to talk to one.

Transparency: This guide is an independent publication by Ana Lívia Medeiros / Medeiros Internacional. Apart from my role as an official Canva Ambassador, it is not affiliated with, sponsored or approved by any platform, brand or government agency mentioned in it. It's educational content and does not promise income: results depend on your own work and circumstances.

Follow me on Instagram (English): @medeiros.international →

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the files?

Right after payment you'll get an email with your access link. Download the PDF (and the bonuses, if you chose the complete pack) and read it on your phone or computer, or print it.

I have under 5k followers. Is this for me?

Yes. The guide was written for creators with roughly 1k to 20k followers, and several of the seven sources, like UGC, LinkedIn and your own digital product, don't depend on a big audience.

Do I need an LLC to start?

No. You can start as a sole proprietor and get a free EIN from the IRS to keep your Social Security number off brand paperwork. Chapter 2 explains what an LLC does and doesn't do: by default a single-member LLC is taxed like a sole proprietorship, so it can separate liability but doesn't lower your taxes on its own. If you're weighing one, the guide tells you when to talk to a CPA or attorney.

Is this tax or legal advice?

No. It's educational content based on official IRS and FTC guidance, written by a Brazilian law student, not a US attorney or CPA. It helps you understand the rules and ask better questions. For decisions about your specific situation, talk to a licensed professional.

What if I'm outside the US?

The tax and business chapters are written for people who file US taxes. If you live elsewhere, the method, templates and pricing logic still apply, but your local tax rules will be different. One thing that does cross borders: if your content reaches US consumers, the FTC's disclosure rules can apply to you. Living in Brazil? There's a Portuguese edition written for Brazilian rules.

Does the guide promise I'll make money?

No. It gives you a method, ready-to-use templates and the rules. Results depend on your work, niche and circumstances. Any dollar amounts in the guide are clearly labeled as examples.

What's the difference between the basic and complete packs?

The basic pack is the PDF guide with its three annexes. The complete pack adds the four bonuses: the message kit, the 30-day planner, the fillable media kit and the hooks + captions.

Can I share the PDF with a friend?

Please don't. Each copy is licensed to the buyer for personal use. That's what keeps the price low.

What if it's not for me?

You have 30 days from purchase to ask for a full refund, no questions asked. In the first 7 days you can request it straight from your purchase confirmation email. After that, send a DM to @medeiros.international on Instagram with the email you used to buy, and we'll process your refund.

Are the 2026 rules up to date?

Yes. Dates, thresholds and rates were checked against official sources in October 2026, and the sources are listed at the end of the guide. Where a number changes every year, the text flags it with “(check)”.

Made for creators who are just starting and want to do it right

Followers is enough to start

To start, for 30 days

Rules explained before your first deal

It's for you if…

It's not for you if…

What readers are saying

What's inside

Brand partnership agreement template

Rate card in USD

Media-kit checklist

7 income sources, one chapter each

Brand deals and sponsorships

Affiliate marketing

UGC

TikTok Shop and social commerce

LinkedIn as an income source

Your own low-ticket product

Your own community

Business setup, taxes, legal and scams

3 steps and you're already working the plan

Check out securely

Download the guide and bonuses

Follow the 30-day plan

4 bonuses so you never get stuck

Ready-to-send message kit

30-day planner

Fillable media kit

50 hooks + 30 captions

Choose your pack

Basic pack

Complete pack

Optional add-on at checkout: Creator Income Tracker

30-day money-back guarantee

Secure payment

Your personal copy

Ana Lívia Medeiros

Frequently asked questions

One source at a time, a 30-day plan and zero shortcuts.